Oklahoma Turnpike Authority puts ACCESS on pause after lawsuit loss

Earlier this month, a district courtroom dominated the OTA had violated the state’s Open Assembly Act as a result of it used obscure wording in agendas for conferences that licensed the ACCESS venture.

However the OTA argued to the state Supreme Courtroom that it, moderately than the district courtroom, ought to make that decision. Tuesday, the Supreme Courtroom dominated it didn’t agree and let the district courtroom’s choice stand.

The ACCESS Oklahoma venture was introduced following the Feb. 22 OTA board assembly. The venture would assemble new turnpike extensions in Oklahoma and Cleveland Counties, amongst others, a few of that are estimated to pressure over 600 householders out of their properties — although the OTA stated this quantity is nearer to 200.

The district courtroom’s choice invalidated the ACCESS-related actions taken in the course of the conferences in query, which quantities to about $69 million in engineering contracts for the venture.

The OTA should return to the drafting board to re-vote on the ACCESS venture approvals. Wednesday, the company despatched out a mass e mail saying it could be halting all contract work on all ACCESS tasks till the re-vote.

However whereas ACCESS has hit a stumbling block for now, the OTA stated it’s going to “transfer in a deliberate and considerate method, in compliance with the Courtroom’s choice, to progress ACCESS Oklahoma.”